MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax) - Russia and Indonesia could bring their military and military-technical cooperation to a new level, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"We are willing to continue to coordinate our joint actions to promote the consistent development of Russian-Indonesian ties, including in regard to military and military-technical cooperation, as well as in a multilateral format between ADMM Plus dialogue partners," Shoigu said during negotiations with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday.
Russia and Indonesia could sign a strategic partnership declaration this year, he said.
"We view Indonesia as one of Russia's most important partners in the Asia Pacific region, interaction with whom has been based historically on friendship and mutual trust. We acknowledge the preconditions for bringing our bilateral ties to a strategic partnership level," Shoigu said.
Subianto said, "We, in Indonesia, see Russia as one of the greatest powers in the world. Russia, as well as formerly the Soviet Union, has always helped Indonesia in hard times and has always stood by Indonesia. We have always wished and are wishing to be close with Russia and develop friendly relations with it."
He thanked Shoigu for the meeting and said the two would also discuss the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the victory in WWII.
As reported before, Russia is planning to supply Indonesia with a batch of BMP-3F infantry fighting vehicles and BT-3F armored personnel carriers.
Russia and Indonesia have also signed a contract for 11 Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter aircraft, although its implementation has not yet been started.
As Interfax reported earlier, since 1992, Russia has supplied Indonesia with Su-27 and SU-30MK2 fighter aircraft and air-launched weapons, Mil Mi-17V-5 and Mi-35P helicopters, BMP-3F infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, and the 100th series Kalashnikov assault rifles. Russia has granted loans to Indonesia to buy Russian weapons.